Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls’ roster got a dose of villainy with the reveal of three new roster members. Magneto, Green Goblin, and Carnage join the 4v4 tag team fighting game and are ready to unleash a potent reign of terror.
The three supervillains form a squad led by Doctor Doom, aptly named the Knights of Doom. The trailer shows off the newcomers’ unique abilities, from Green Goblin using his signature glider in combat to Carnage absolutely tearing foes to shreds in an appropriately chaotic fashion.
The evil trio joins a roster that includes Spider-Man, Iron Man, Captain America, Storm, Ms. Marvel, Ghost Rider, Star-Lord, Wolverine, Magik, and Danger.
Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls launches on August 6 for PlayStation 5 and PC.
The Lost Wild, the dino-thriller from Great Ape Games and Annapurna Interactive, has resurfaced from a long dormancy and looks ready for a revival. The primal adventure is now arriving sometime in 2027.
Shown during today’s Sony State of Play, The Lost Wild looks to be a first-person survival game where you try to survive in a forest laden with prehistoric animals.
We last saw this game back in 2022, during an Annapurna Interactive showcase. In the time since, it looks like the team has been tuning the graphics and making the dinos look particularly terrifying.
Currently confirmed for PlayStation 5 and PC, this looks like a prime candidate for anyone who’s wanted to see if they could survive in a forest full of hungry dinosaurs. Just remember which ones you should freeze in front of, and which you should run from. We’ll keep an eye on this one as it continues emerging from the amber.
Mintrocket is returning to the Dave the Diver universe with a new game and visual style. The prequel follows one of Dave the Diver’s most memorable character, sushi chef Bancho.
The game, titled Bancho the Chef, follows Bancho before he teamed up with Dave and was learning how to be an expert chef. The description for the game reads, “Meet Bancho – long before he became the acclaimed sushi master of Blue Hole. Bancho the Chef is an all-new standalone prequel from the creators of Dave the Diver, following a young Bancho as he travels across Asia to learn from master chefs on his journey to greatness.”
The trailer doesn’t offer too much insight into the gameplay. It looks like minogames about cooking and learning how to cook. The visuals are also different from Dave the Diver as it has dropped the pixel-look for something more straightforward. It does seem to reatin the style and color palette, however.
Bancho the Chef is coming to PlayStation 5 and likely other platforms, as well, eventually.
This release date was revealed during today’s PlayStation State of Play in a new trailer, and Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis continues to look sharp, highlighting a return to the more classic style of Lara Croft games while reimagining her very first adventure in 1996’s Tomb Raider. Check it out in the new Tomb Raider: Legacy of Atlantis trailer below:
As Lara Croft, you must harness your wits and athleticism to explore exotic locations lost to time, according to the game’s description: “From the jungles of Peru to the ancient ruins of Greece, the deserts of Egypt, and a mysterious Mediterranean island shrouded in Myth – traverse treacherous landscapes, solve deadly contraptions, and face lethal predators as you hunt for the scattered pieces of the Scion, an artifact of immeasurable power.”
On top of all of that, there are also dinosaurs, and who doesn’t love a little dinosaur-related crisis in their action games? Okay, maybe Lara doesn’t, but it looks like a good time for us.
Insomniac offered a new look at Wolverine to open today’s Sony State of Play presentation. The new gameplay presentation shows Logan fighting his way through a group of Reavers to save a group of mutant children. If there’s one thing that the presentation makes clear right from the jump, it’s that Wolverine does not pull his punches. The entire demo is bloody, violent, and filled with brutal slashing injuries on a moment-to-moment basis. We also get a first look at one of the most integral characters from the X-Men fiction making her debut in the game, as Jean Grey shows up to bring her telekinetic mutant gifts into the fight.
The demonstration includes an extensive infiltration sequence that shows off some of Wolverine’s traversal capability, which involves jumping and sliding along his claws. Claw attacks are unabashedly brutal, with kill animations showing limb removal, head-piercings, and more. Shortly into the demo, we see the telltale pink telekinetic power effects of Jean Grey, as she levitates down into the battle to take out some Reavers. Given the complex friendship and relationship between the two characters in the comics, it’s one of the more exciting character additions we’ve seen so far, joining the likes of Mystique and Sabretooth.
After Jean’s arrival, the combat continues into an intense motorcycle chase after the kidnapped mutant kids, including a miniboss-esque fight atop a moving truck, where Wolverine takes a bunch of damage, and we get to see a button-tapping sequence that lets him rapidly heal. Of the many impressive visual feats on display in the new gameplay, the healing of flesh over top of Logan’s adamantium bones is certainly one of the most impressive.
Wolverine continues to look amazing, if decidedly mature in its presentation, every time we’ve seen it in action. The inclusion of familiar Marvel cameos is also a ton of fun, opening the door to the ways this game could act as a gateway into more Marvel adventures in the future.
Insomniac is targeting a September 15 launch for Wolverine on PlayStation 5.
Ubisoft has revealed Rayman Legends Retold, a 3D remake of 2013’s Rayman Legends, and it launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC on October 1. Don’t let “3D” scare you – it still looks and plays like the original 2D platformer, but with newly updated 3D visuals courtesy of Ubisoft’s Snowdrop engine, used for games like Star Wars Outlaws and The Division 2. In congruency, this 3D remake of a 2D game makes Retold a 2.5D platformer.
I traveled to Montpellier, France, to visit Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio that created Rayman and is working as lead developer on this remake alongside Ubisoft Milan, to play roughly two hours of Retold. I played through the first two worlds – Old Teensie Kingdom and The Stinkbog – tried out the new Star Fox-esque dragon-riding levels, got a quick look at the returning-from-Rayman-Origins-but-new-to-Legends-Retold Land of the Dead world, and even played through two new music levels. Rayman Legends is one of my favorite platformers, and though I am still conflicted on Ubisoft leaving behind its beautiful hand-drawn animated visuals of the original 2D adventure, I can’t deny that I had a blast playing Retold; I even grew quite fond of the 3D visual style, and that’s because of a thoughtful design approach to updating the visuals. Yes, it’s now in 3D but it still contains the whimsical fantasy of Legends’ 2D style, now with additional fore-and-background details that add welcome touches of staging to each level.
But first, check out the Rayman Legends Retold trailer for yourself below to get a look at its new art:
Like the original, Retold will feature 1 to 4-player couch co-op in the campaign, with playable characters Rayman, Globox, Teensy, and Barbara returning but with updated visual styles to transition them from 2D to 3D models. Plus, Kung-Foot returns with its simple but fun Smash Bros. meets soccer gameplay. Despite Retold looking quite different to the original Legends, I’m happy to report that it plays identically, and that’s because under the hood of the 3D staging is still the same 2D bones that felt great in 2013. Of course, tweaks here and there and quality-of-life updates make it feel all the better, but trust that Retold will retain the gameplay that makes Legends so great. Ubisoft Montpellier developers even showed us the 2D engine running under the 3D visuals, highlighting how the art and level design teams have worked hard to use interesting and unique visual tricks to make a 3D-looking game play like a 2D one, hence the 2.5D feel.
The parallax scrolling is an especially pleasant addition, adding environmental depth to the platforming gauntlets throughout Retold. It’s an especially fun effect in the new dragon-riding levels, which connect the end of one world with the beginning of the next. They play like fantasy-flavored Star Fox missions, where you control the dragon like a starship, shooting fireballs at enemies and obstacles alike in your way. Unlike the standard platforming levels of Retold, where Rayman is looking to collect kidnapped Teensies on the way to the end, each dragon begins with every teensie of the level on their back; your goal is to reach the end without losing any, but each time you take damage, one falls off. You can also hold down a button to make the dragons fart, though I wasn’t able to discern if this did anything at all (other than make me chuckle because I am a child).
Returning music levels, like the “Black Betty” one, remain a highlight of the remade Legends adventure, as do the new additions. And though I lamented the new songs selected for these levels – one is the “Macarena”, which begins in a Mexican festival-themed level before strangely becoming an old-world Italian restaurant stage – it’s still a great time speeding through levels while jumping, punching, and gliding to the beat of a real-world track.
For all the greatness of Legends, its finale sucks (something a producer at the studio agreed with me on), and Ubisoft Montpellier is tackling that issue head-on with a brand new villain. However, their likeness remains a mystery to me, save for purple glowing eyes, a black shroud, and the ability to corrupt enemies with magic. I’m excited to see what depth, if any, this villain adds to the entire Retold package. At the very least, I hope they make for a more satisfying and climactic conclusion to an otherwise excellent platforming adventure.
There’s a lot more new in Retold, including additional tracks from famed composer Grant Kirkhope, and I dive into all of that, as well as exclusive insight from Ubisoft Montpellier art directors, producers, animators, and more, in my six-page feature on Retold in the next issue of Game Informer. Keep an eye out for it there if you’re a subscriber, and if you’re not, head here to do so before it’s too late.
Rayman Legends Retold launches on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC on October 1.
Fallout 76 launched way back in 2018 (can you believe that?) and despite the longevity on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, it still hasn’t made the native jump to the current generation of consoles. Developer Bethesda Game Studios, however, will begin testing PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game this month, with plans to roll out the update sometime this Summer.
This news was announced in the Infestations update release notes (that you can read here), which also explains that Fallout 76 will get PlayStation 5 Pro support. Anyone who already owns Fallout 76 will be able to download the Xbox Series X/S or PS5 test versions from their respective stores and try out the updated game. Bethesda says once testing is complete, it plans to release the update later this Summer.
Here’s what you can expect in the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Fallout 76:
Targeted 60 FPS across PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X/S
Improved draw distances
Improved shadows
4K resolution (on compatible displays) on PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X [Editor’s Note: Xbox Series S 4K support is not planned]
Variable Refresh Rate on PS5, PS5 Pro, and Xbox Series X/S
PS5 and PS5 Pro will support 1440p, while previous-generation platforms will continue to support 1080p.
Crimson Desert launched on March 19 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC, and Mac, and since then, developer Pearl Abyss has been hard at work improving the game, leaving no criticized stone unturned. In Game Informer’s Crimson Desert review, we said the game lacked narrative depth, and according to the latest roadmap for the open-world action game, the studio is working to fix that. Plus, Pearl Abyss promises new combat-focused content, cross-save functionality, and more between now and September.
“We plan to roll these updates out gradually from June through September, and we’re preparing them to be enjoyable both for those who have spent many hours in Pywel and for those who are just beginning their journey,” the roadmap reads. “Your feedback will continue to be an important reference throughout development, so please continue to share it with us.”
Pearl Abyss says the listed updates in today’s roadmap are not where the team’s support for Crimson Desert ends, noting, “We are also hard at work on an upcoming DLC for Crimson Desert, and while we cannot share the details just yet, we are preparing it as a meaningful addition to your journey.”
Here’s the list of planned updates for Crimson Desert, according to Pearl Abyss’ latest roadmap:
Story Improvements: Pearl Abyss says it is carefully reviewing story-related feedback from players and, to strengthen the narrative flow of Kliff’s journey and make it more engaging, is working to refine and improve the coherence of key scenes.
New Combat Content: New combat-focused content will be added to Crimson Desert, according to Pearl Abyss, “allowing players to prove their true strength as a Greyman.”
Cross-Save: The studio says it is actively working on a cross-save feature to allow players to continue their journey in Pywel across different platforms. “By linking your account, you will be able to share save files across platforms and continue your journey on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox,” the roadmap reads.
Re-Blockade Update: Pearl Abyss writes in the roadmap that a new phase for Re-Blockade is being developed to “make the flow before and after a blockade more natural, along with ways to defend certain strongholds from the threat of invasion.” It also says the rewards will be improved to make liberating strongholds feel more rewarding.
Damiane and Oongka Gameplay Improvements: Pearl Abyss is working on improving the overall gameplay experience for Damiane and Oongka experiences in Crimson Desert, noting that “various adjustments will be made so that all three playable characters can get a share of the spotlight.”
Quality of Life Improvements for Non-Combat Content: The roadmap reads, “We will continue making improvements to non-combat content, such as trading and farming, to address areas that players have found inconvenient.”
To close out the roadmap, Pearl Abyss says the planned features above are currently in development and that details may change as updates are released.
All of the updates listed above are expected to hit Crimson Desert between now and September.
Are you still playing Crimson Desert? Let us know what the biggest differences between launch and today you’ve noticed in the game are in the comments below!
God of War is back, but this time the next adventure is a prequel starring Faye, the wife of Kratos and mother of Atreus. What happened after she was laid to rest at the end of the 2018 game? We’re about to find out thanks to the game’s staggering 23-minute debut gameplay trailer.
The demo begins with Faye, or her proper name of Laufey, given her frost giant heritage, awakening in a mysterious forest immediately after being laid to rest at the conclusion of God of War (2018). Faye is portrayed by actress Deborah Ann Woll, known for roles such as Karen Page in Daredevil. The adventure centers on her arrival in the afterlife of the gods –The Everywhen – a bizarre world filled with magical creatures and deities of all shapes and sizes.
According to an official description on the game’s PlayStation Store page, ‘Faye discovers the plans she put in place to protect Kratos and Atreus in her absence are now at risk.” To save her family, she must battle gods from multiple pantheons, all vying for dominance of the Everywhen.
Combat is a mix of one-handed swordplay, where Faye nimbly hacks away at foes, including popping them skyward for air juggles, while using her free hand to utilize an array of magical abilities. At one point in the demo, Faye is taken prisoner but escapes thanks to the help of an unlikely ally: a talking, affable gelatinous cube with a sword stuck in it. This cube, played by Jack Quaid, is named Phranque, aids Faye in her quest, including helping her obtain the sword embedded within it. Combat encounters with small foes and larger bosses sport the same over-the-shoulder action as Krato’s Norse adventures, and the world looks equally as stunning as those games, but has a dreamlike whimsy that juxtaposes well with the series’ trademark brutality.
God of War Laufey is coming to PlayStation 5, but it has no release window. It’s the latest God of War project Santa Monica has in the oven, following the announcement of the God of War Trilogy Remake.
The Eternal Life of Goldman was announced last year and since then, we here at Game Informer have been keeping a close eye on it because, well, it’s beautiful. And if you missed out on the Steam Next Fest demo for it earlier this year, good news: a new demo featuring 90 minutes of gameplay for The Eternal Life of Goldman went live today on PlayStation 5 – we can’t recommend it enough!
The gorgeous hand-drawn visuals of The Eternal Life of Goldman will surely catch your attention, but there’s also a really great DuckTales-inspired platformer in there, too, with the titular Goldman pogo-ing around colorful stages like Scrooge McDuck. Unlike its inspirations, though, the team at Weappy Studio has promised a story full of heart (and some terrifying scenes, too), and you can read more about that in Game Informer’s exclusive behind-the-scenes preview here.
Here’s a look at The Eternal Life of Goldman demo on PS5:
There’s no release date for The Eternal Life of Goldman yet, but it’s due to drop on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC sometime this year.
